Sips & Synopsis

• This Weeks Makings

• Trivia Question

• Drink of the Week - Vespar Martini

• Shaking vs. Stirring

• Bonus Cocktails

• Mocktail Moment - Shaken Citrus Cooler

This Weeks Makings.

“Shaken or stirred?” gets treated like trivia, but it is one of the most important technical decisions a bartender makes.

This week we are breaking down what shaking and stirring actually do to a drink, why the difference matters, and how choosing the right technique can completely change texture, balance, and overall experience.

In this issue:

• What shaking and stirring really change

• How bartenders decide which to use

• A drink of the week that proves the point

• Bonus cocktails that highlight both techniques

• A zero proof drink where technique still matters

Trivia Question❓

Why did James Bond famously order his Martini shaken instead of stirred?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Vesper Martini

A controversial classic that proves technique changes everything.

Ingredients
3 oz gin
1 oz vodka
0.5 oz Lillet Blanc
Lemon peel

Directions

1. Add gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc to a shaker filled with ice.

2. Shake briefly until very cold.

3. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora or coupe glass.

4. Express a lemon peel over the drink and discard or garnish.

Why this drink matters
The Vesper breaks classic martini rules on purpose. Shaking increases dilution and sharpens the drink’s profile, creating a colder, more aggressive martini. Stirring would soften it considerably. This drink shows how technique is a choice, not a commandment.

Shaking vs. Stirring Is About Texture, Not Tradition

Shaking and stirring are not interchangeable. They serve different purposes.

Shaking chills a drink quickly, adds dilution fast, and incorporates air. That aeration changes texture, making drinks feel lighter, brighter, and sometimes slightly frothy. This is ideal for cocktails with citrus, egg white, dairy, or juice. These ingredients need force to integrate properly.

Stirring is gentler. It chills slowly, controls dilution, and preserves clarity. Stirred drinks feel silky and weighty, allowing spirits and fortified wines to remain expressive without added air.

Bartenders make this decision based on what the drink needs, not what tradition says. Citrus needs to be shaken. Spirit forward drinks benefit from stirring. When the technique is wrong, the drink feels off even if the recipe is correct.

At home, many drinks fail because the technique does not match the ingredients. Learning when to shake and when to stir is one of the fastest ways to level up your cocktails.

Tools that support good technique:

• Weighted shaker tins for proper aeration

• Mixing glass with spout for controlled stirring

• Bar spoon designed for smooth rotation

Bonus Cocktails

Classic Martini

The gold standard for stirring.

Ingredients
2.5 oz gin
0.5 oz dry vermouth

Directions
Add ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled and properly diluted. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora or coupe glass. Garnish with lemon twist or olive.

Why it works
Stirring preserves clarity and creates the signature silky texture martinis are known for.

Whiskey Sour

A drink that must be shaken.

Ingredients
2 oz bourbon
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup

Directions
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Why it works
Without shaking, citrus and sugar never fully integrate, leaving the drink disjointed.

Mocktail or Zero Proof Option

Shaken Citrus Cooler

Proof that technique matters even without alcohol.

Ingredients
2 oz fresh orange juice
1 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
2 oz chilled sparkling water

Directions
Shake juices and syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with sparkling water and stir gently.